Hydromorphone hydrochloride is an opiate, narcotic analgesic
that has been available outside of Japan for over 80 years.
Although it is the standard for pain management for cancer
pain treatment according to WHO guidelines, hydromorphone
hydrochloride has yet to be approved in Japan.
Mundipharma K.K. had been requested by the Study Group on
Unapproved and Off-label Drugs of High Medical Need* to
develop hydromorphone hydrochloride in Japan, but after
subsequent discussions it was decided that Daiichi Sankyo
would develop the drug instead. The development of
hydromorphone hydrochloride will contribute to the
improvement of pain management options in Japan, and Daiichi
Sankyo, through its commitment to corporate social
responsibility, will continue to work to make unapproved and
off-label drugs available in Japan in order to further
contribute to medical treatment options for patients.
*A study group set up by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour
and Welfare to promote development by pharmaceutical
companies of unapproved and off-label drugs in Japan that
have been approved in the United States and Europe.
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This press release was issued by Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. and was initially posted at http://www.daiichisankyo.com/news/20120321_376_E2.pdf . It was distributed, unedited and unaltered, by noodls on 2012-03-24 07:53:56 AM. The issuer is solely responsible for the accuracy of the information contained therein.